The questioning was reasonably low-key. How will she handle someone more forceful than Mr. Gibson was this evening?

[REPORTER] “Well, you say you're sure she has the experience, but again, I'm just asking for an example,” Caldwell said. “What experience does she have in the field of national security?” McCain responded (emphasis mine):

[MCCAIN] “Energy. She knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America. She's a governor of a state where 20% of America's energy supply comes from there. And we all know that energy is a critical and vital national security issue. We've got to stop sending $700 billion of American money to countries that don't like us very much. She's very well versed on that issue.” And, uh, she also happens to represent, be governor of a state that's right next to Russia. She understands Russia.”

Oh my goodness. She knows more about energy than anyone else in the country? Who is he kidding?

Now, I agree that energy really is an important issue with national security overtones, but knowing something about oil and gas supplies hardly qualifies her as an expert on national security. Heck, it doesn't even qualify her as being an expert on energy. That's ridiculous. Although perhaps not as ridiculous as saying she understands Russia. Sheesh.

The interview has some other rambling moments. For example, the interviewer asks him about Palin's per diem expenses. McCain responded with a nonsensical list of irrelevant spin. He did the same thing when the interviewer asked him about Palin's understanding of terrorism. Then the interviewer asked him again about national security and he got pretty much exactly the same answer as he did the first time. It was just weird.

Who will be more “deferential” to Sarah Palin now that Charlie GIbson has shown his mean media self?

Russia can't cross a border to (outwardly) protect an ethnic group. Check. US can cross any borders we want to pursue our enemies and spread democracy. Check.

And is she somehow trying play down her very evident ultra-fundamental religious views as being normal? I've seen the video of her addressing members of her church's congregation and she is truly a cheerleader for Jesus, not a quiet adherent or social congregant. Does she believe that a nuclear induced rapture is an acceptable outcome? Another instance where some churches zeal for videotaping their activities would seem to be inconvenient or perhaps just a little too much information.

Russia can't cross a border to (outwardly) protect an ethnic group. Check. US can cross any borders we want to pursue our enemies and spread democracy. Check.

And is she somehow trying play down her very evident ultra-fundamental religious views as being normal? I've seen the video of her addressing members of her church's congregation and she is truly a cheerleader for Jesus, not a quiet adherent or social congregant. Does she believe that a nuclear induced rapture is an acceptable outcome? Another instance where some churches zeal for videotaping their activities would seem to be inconvenient or perhaps just a little too much information.

UPDATE: naturally, the lead on the front page of Yahoo is not about Palin's lack of knowledge of the primary doctrine upon which our foreign policy has been based for 7 years nor about war with Russia — it's her views on God and war. Ugh.

And I think the Bush Doctrine exchange was the most embarrassing for her.